Adoption - vision statement: priorities and plan - summary version

4. What should adoption look like?

• Children who are adopted in Scotland receive love, care and support to enable them to live full lives.
• Children and young people’s needs are at the heart of decisions about their forever home.
• Families are found which can meet every child’s needs.
• Birth families are supported to understand the process of adoption. They are also supported with their own experience of loss and change. This includes being supported to keep in agreed contact once the adoption happens.
• Adopters are prepared and supported to meet the needs of the children, young people and sibling groups they adopt.
• Children live with their brothers and sisters where it is safe and possible. If it is not possible, they should be supported to stay in touch with them and other people important to them.
• People are supported throughout their adoption journey. This might be with their health, education or wellbeing needs. It might also be help to understand more about their background before adoption (their “life journey”) for example.